Blow torch



Ju' 2 0, 1933- R. A. WILEY x-:r All.; 1

owmorwa Filed March 7, 1929 V 4 Sheets-Sheet l June 20, 1933. R, A, w||EY ET AL y 1,915,141

BLOW TORCH Filed March 7, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 20, 1933. R, A.WILEY Er AL BLOW TORCH Filed March '7, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Y @yg/we.,

f/zly ola June 20, 1933. R. A. WILEY ET AL BLOW TORCH Filed March 7,1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented June 20, 1933 Unirse STATES PATENT erstenROY A. WILEY AND CHESLEY L. WOLFE, OF SOUTH BEND, ICNDIANA, ASSIGNORS TTHE ELECTRIC SPRAYIT COMPANY, OF SOUTH BEND, INDANA, A CORPORATION OFDELAWARE BLOW' TORCH Application led March 7, 1929. Serial No. 345,028.

l V made up as a blow torch, or as a blow torch attachment for use witha paint-spraying device, or as a laboratory heater, or as a cookingstove. The foregoing are but a few of the many obvious adaptations ofthe inven- 316 tion.

. There are a number of diiiculties vandobjections attendant upon theoperation of the ordinary blow torch. It burns only a highly volatilefuel such as gasoline, requires 15 pre-heating of the nozzle beforeusing, de-

pends on vaporization of the fuel, necessitates frequent pumping tomaintain sufcient air pressure on the fuel, is rather dangerous Ltohandle, requires the attention of ASi() a skilled operator, and isexpensive to manufacture. y

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved blow torchof novel construction, arrangement and operation.

The blow torch of the invention is designed for operation with low gradefuel oils, Vor kerosene, or more volatile liquids such as gasoline,benzine or alcohol. It will burn kerosene, for instance, as well orbetter thank the ordinary torch will burn gasoline; it produces anintensely hot blast; it does not require any pre-heating at all; it canbe started instantly by holding a lighted match below the front end ofthe nozzle; it will not drip fuel when being` started; it is absolutelysafe; it operates at a constant, non-fluctuating air pressure; it costsbut little to manufacture; it can be operated with ease by a personhaving no previous experiences; and it can be made up not only in theform of a typical blow torch, but as a stand heater, or as an attachmentfor application to and use with a portable paint-spraying device,whereby such device may be converted in a few moments into aneiiiciently operating blow torch.

While the foregoing statements are indicativeiin a general way of thenature of the invention, other objects, advantages and n adaptationswill be apparent to those skilled in the art upon a full understandingof the improved blow torch.

' Several different adaptations of the invention are presented hereinfor the purpose of exemplification, but it will of course be ap-Vpreciated that the invention is susceptible of embodiment in variousother structurally modified forms coming equally within the scope of theappended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a partially sectioned side view of a blow torch embodying theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a partially sectioned side view of a stand heater embodyingthe invention;

Fig. 3 is a side view of a hand portable paint-spraying device equippedwith a blow torch attachment embodying the invention, Fig. 4 is asectional view, illustrating in detail the attachment shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a cooking f stove, the individualburners of which embody the invention;

Fig. 6 is a section through one of the stove burners shown in Fig. 5;and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view through anovel form of needlevalve which may be used in connection with any of the forms of burnersshown.

The blow torch shownr in Fig. 1 includes a container 10. in which aquantity of liquid fuel is adapted to be placed. The container' ispreferably flared about its bottom to provide a stable support when setupon a horizontal surface, and is equipped at one side with a handle 11by which the device may be conveniently held. A tubular member 12 screwsinto the top of the container and ter minates at its upper end in ahorizontally extending head 13. Thehead is eXteriorly threaded at itsfront end and is pro-vided within such end with a chamber 14. A'nozzle15 is screwed onto the front end of the head and contains in its rearface a conical recess 16 which forms the front portion of the chamber14.

The air used in operating the torch is fed under pressure from asuitable compressor or storage tank (not shown) through a long flexiblehose 17, which hose connects with a passageway 18 in the head openinginto the chamber 14. The passageway 18 also communicates with theinterior of the container 10 above the level of the fuel through a smallduct 19.

The fuel used in operating the torch is caused by the pressure of theair on the top of the same to flow upwardly in a tube 2O into asmallbore 21 in the head, from which bore it iows forwardly into a tube 22which projects from the bore 21 into the chamber 14. The front end ofthe tube 22 tapers to a small opening 23, and a needle valve 24 whichcontrols the flow of fuel through the opening 23 is positioned centrallywithin the tube 22. The stem 25 of the needle valve extends rearwardlythrough ,the bore 21 and is screwed into a bushing 26' which is mountedin the rear end of the bore. A knurled handle 27 is secured to the valvestem 25 exteriorly of the head, and,rto diminish or increase the flow offuel from the front end of the tube 22, it is merely necessary to turnthe handle 27 in one direction or the other.

The nozzle 15 is provided in its front end with an elongated cylindricalbore 28 which communicates centrally with the chamber 14 through a smallorifice 29 which is located in front of andV closely adjacent to theopening 23 inthe tubef22.` The inner wall 30 of thenozzle is separatedfrom the outer wall 31 by an annular chamber 32 Vwhich communicates withthe Abore 28 through two sets of apertures 33 and 34 positionedrespectively adjacent the front and rear ends of the charnber 32. Aplate 35 is positioned crosswise of the bore 28 between the front andrear apertures 33 and 34, a short distance in front of the orifice 29,and is provided with a large number of minutev uniformly distributedp'erforations 36 through which the combustible mixture is forced. Theplate 35 is seated against a narrow annular'shoulder 37 in the bore 28,and is held against such shoulder by a readily removable split springring 38 which is seated in a shallow annular groove in the bore just inadvance of the plate. V`

When the blow torch is to be started, the compressor is turned on andair under pressure is caused to flow rapidly into the chamber-14 and outthrough the orifice 29 into the bore 28 of the nozzle. The needle Valve24 isthen cracked a little, whereupon the pressure of the air in the topof the container 1() forces the fuel up through the tube 2O and outofthe'front end of the tube 22 into the front portion of the chamber 14,where such fuel mixes with the rapidly moving blast of air passing aboutthe front end of the tube 22 through the orifice 29, is further brokenup by the perforated diaphragm 35 and is blown with the air from thefront end of the bore 28, in the form of a fine vapor. Such will ignitevery easily, and it is nwly necessary to hold a lightedmatch'niomentarily just below the front end of the nozzle in order toplace the blow torch in full operation.

When the blow torch is being started, any of the fuel which is notcompletely vaporized when it reaches the perforated diaphragm 35 will bepocketed in the rear portion of the bore 28 behind the diaphragm andwill drain down into the chamber 32 through the openingsv 34. As theblow torch gets into full operation, the nozzle heats up, vand any fuelwhich has drained down into the chamber 32 in the nozzle is quicklyvaporized by the heat transmitted thereto and passes back through theopenings 34 into the bore 28, where it joins the combustibleV mixturepassing through the bore and is consumed with such mixture at the frontend of the nozzle. The openings 33 allow outside air to flow into thechamber 32. Should any of the fuel which is being discharged from thefront end of the tube 22 into the air stream in the front portion of thechamber 14, fail to pass through the orifice 29 when the blow torch isfirst being started. it will drain into a well 39 in the passageway 18and return from there into the container through the duct 19. A

In order to shut ofi' the blow torch` it is merely necessary to closethe needle valve. The richness of the mixture being burned may be easilyvaried by changing the position of the needle valve.

The head and nozzle construction shown lin Fig. 1 may be incorporatedvalso in a stand burner, as shown in Fig..2. 1n that View, the head 40 onwhich the nozzle 41 is mounted is arranged with the jet tube 42 in aVertical position, and the stem 43 of the vneedle valve 44 whichcontrols the opening 45 in the upper end of the jet tube extendsdownwardly through a sleeve 46. The sleeve 46 has a kfluid-tightVconnection at its lower end with the bottom of the container 47, and

the stem 43 of the needle valve is in screwvlied nozzle constructionwhich may be applied easily to, and used advantageously with, apaint-spraying gun.A As inthe previously described forms, the nozzle isprovided with a long, substantially cylindrical bore 51, inner and outerwalls 52 and 53 which are spaced to form therebetween a chamber 54, afinely perforated plate or screen 55 posie tioned crosswise of the bore51" asshort 'distance in front of the vhole 56 .in the partition 57vwhich separates the bore 5l from the chamber 58 where the streams offuel and air are brought together', and front and-rear sets of openings59 and 60 connecting the chamber with the bore 5l forwardly-andrearwardly of the diaphragm 55. The-partition 5'?, instead of beingformed as a part of the inner wall 52 of the nozzle, constitutes thefront portion of an adapter sleeve 61 over which the rear end of thenozzle proper is screwed. The adapter sleeve is screwedintoA the frontend of the barrel 62 of a paintspraying gun 63, in which barrel a jettube 611 is cent-rally positioned.

rlhe air used `in operating the torch is fed through a liexible hose 65to the chamber 58 formed in the barrel' behind they adapter sleeve. Thefuel used in operating the torch is caused by thepressure of the air onthe V top of the same in the paint container to liow upwardly through latube 66 into the jet tube 64, from which it is discharged throughv anopening 67 into the stream of air passing through the chamber A58 intothe orifice 56. The liow of air through the chamber 58 may be controlledby manipulating a trigger-like finger piece 68, and the character of theflameproduced Vmay be varied by screwing the nozzle proper forwardly orkrearwardly with respect to the adapter sleeve, a knurled rim 69 beingprovided on therear end of the nozzle for that purpose. The density orrichness of the air and vapor mixture projected through the orifice 56may be regulated by turning the adapter sleeve whereby to move theorifice toward or away 'from the opening 67 ink the jet tube. Theouter'sides of the front end of the jet tube 64 may advantageously beprovided with angularly extending channels 70 lwhich' will impart awhirling motionrto'the rapidly moving air stream. This feature may alsobe incorporated, if desired, in the forms shown in Figs. l and 2.

In Figs. 5 and 6 is shown an adapta-tionof the invention to an ordinarycooking stove. Each one of the stove burners is substantially the sa-mein construction, arrangement and operation as the burner shown in, Fig,2. rlhe fuel et tubes 7l are all connected with a common fuel supplypipe 72 by branch pipes 73, and valves 'lihaving rconvenientlyaccessible operating'handles 7 5 are mounted in the pipes 73 at thejunctions with the pipe 72 for controllingrthe iiow of. fuelk throughthe openings76 in the upper ends ofthe tubes 7l. The conical airlchambers 77lsurrounding the upper ends of the tubes 7lfare connectedwith acompressed air supply pipe 7 8 by branch pipes 79, and valves 80having operating handles 81 are located in the .pipes n 9 forcontrolling the flow of air about the air, and is provided with ashuteoffvalve 83. l

A branch pipe 84 extends from the pipe 78 into the upper portion of aclosed fuel tank 85, wherebyito place pressure upon th-e top of the fuelin such tank. The fuel pipe 72 extends into the upper portion of thetank 85 and .terminates in an open end near the bottom. of the tank.

Theopenings in thestove above the burners are spannedby openwork grids86 which are adapted to support cooking utensils in n properly spacedrelation to the upper ends of the burners, and the central portions 87of the grids are preferablyof upwardly diverging conical form in orderto spread the flames.

When the stove is not in use, all of the valves, including the valve 83,are closed. When it is desired to operate one of the burners,the.valve83 is opened, and the valves 74 and 8O associated with the particularburner to be used are opened.y A lighted match is then placed at theedge of the air and fuel mixture rising through the gridand the fuelvalve Tl is progressively opened until the air and fuelmixtureissulficiently rich to support combustion. l

In Fig. 7 is shown al modified form of needle valve which may be used inconjunc tion lwith any of th-e various burner adaptations shown. Thestem of the valve isv normally maintained in an axially elongatedcondition by means of a spring 88 which is interposed between twoportions 89 and 90 of the stem. The extent to which the stem portionscan be sepa-rated by the spring may be limited by an suitable means,such as a head 91.on one o the portions which engage within a socket 92in the other. Y The spring 88 permits the stem portion 89 carrying thetip of the valve to yield resiliently toward the stem portion 90, withthe result that contraction or expansion of tlievalve seat 93 due totemperature changes will not affect proper seating of the valve, as theaction of the spring will automatically compensate for such changes.

We claim:

l.- In a blow torch, a tube having a single constricted opening in therear end thereof through which air and fuel are blown and one orlmoreopenings in the side thereof adjacentthe front end, a casing surroundingsaidtube and communicating with the interior thereofthrough saidopenings and a perforatedv diaphragm positioned crosswise of the tuberearwardly of the side openings.

2. In a blow torch for operation with a liquid fuel, an inner tubehaving a single constricted opening in the rear end thereof throughwhich air and fuel are blown and openings inthe sidev thereofadjacent-the front and rear ends, a casing surrounding the tube'andcommunicating ktherewith and a perforated diaphragm positioned crosswiseof the tube between the front and rear side openings. Y

3. In a blow torch for operation with a liquid fuel, an inner tubehaving a constricted opening in` the rear end thereof through which airand fuel are blown and one or more openings inthe side thereof, aperforated diaphragm positioned crosswise of the tube, and an outer tubepositioned about the inner tube in spaced relation thereto at thelocation of the side openings to form a communicating chamber.

4. In a blow torch for operation with a liquid fuel, an inner tubehaving a constricted opening in the' rear end thereof through which airand fuel are blown and openings in the side thereof adjacent the frontand rear ends, a perforated diaphragm positioned crosswise of the tubebetween the front and rear side openings, and an outer tube positionedabout the' inner tube in spaced relation thereto at the locations of theside openings to form a communicating chamber.

5. In Ya-blow torch. for operating with liquid fuel, a nozzle comprisingan elongated tubular member having a relatively `wide tubular bore openat the front end toi the atmosphere, a closure wall enclosing rthe rearend of said tubular member, said'closure wall having a restricted nozzleopening, ymeans for forcing anatomized fuel stream and air sufficientfor complete combustion of thefuel through said nozzle opening into saidbore, said tubular member having on its under side a chambercommunicating with said bore on thek front side of said nozzle openingfor withdrawing liquid fuel collecting in front of the nozzle openingfrom the stream and returning ittothe stream'in vaporized form whenheated.

6. In a blow torch for operating with liquid fuel, a, nozzle vcomprisingan elongated tubular member having a relatively wide tubular bore openat the front end to the atmosphere, a closure wall enclosing the rearend-of said tubular member, said closure wall having a restricted nozzleopening, means for vforcing an atomized fuel stream and air `sufifcientfor complete combustion ofthe fuel through said nozzle opening into saidbore, said tubular member having on its under side a chambercommunicating with said bore on the front side of said nozzle openingfor withdrawing liquid fuel collecting in front ofthe nozzle openingfrom the streamand returning it to the stream in vaporized form whenheated, and a perforated baffle positioned cross-wise of the Vnozzlebore between the front and rear ends of the same. Y Y y 7 In a blowtorch for operating with liquid fuel, a nozzle in the form of anelongated member having a relatively wide tubular bore openat the frontend to the atmosphere and a closure wall enclosing the rear end, arestricted nozzle opening in said rear wall, said opening beingoutwardly tapered at the rear end and constituting a compressed airadmission duct, and a fuel supply pipe having an outlet nozzle openinginto said outwardly tapered nozzle opening on the rear side of said rearwall.

- 8. In a hand-portable blow torch for operation with liquid fuel, thecombination of a torchV unit comprising an air duct having a restrictednozzle opening at the front end, a fuel supplytube extending throughsaid duct and having an outlet nozzle adjacent said nozzle opening andto the rear thereof, a fuel container' connected to said fuel tube, asource of compressed air connected to said duct and to said containerfor supplying said fuel to said nozzle opening and producing a stream ofatomized fuel mixed with air suiicient for complete combustion thereofissuing in front of said nozzle opening, and a tubular stream guideextending in front of lsaid nozzle opening around the stream to hold theflame at a distance from the nozzle opening, said tubular guide beingopen at the front end and having a perforated baiie between said frontend and the `nozzle opening.

9. In a hand-'portable blow torch for operation with liquid fuel, thecombination of a torch unit comprising an air duct having a restrictednozzle opening at the front end, a fuel supply tube extending throughsaid duct and having an outlet nozzle adjacent said nozzle opening andto the rear, thereof, a fuel container connected to said fuel tube, asource of compressed air connected to said duct and tosaid container forsupplying said fuel to said nozzle opening and producing a stream ofatomized fuel mixed with air sufficient for complete combustion thereofissuing in front of said nozzle opening,and a tubular stream guideextending in front of said nozzle opening around the stream to hold theflame at a distancefrom the nozzle opening, said tubular guide having acompartment segregated from the stream space but communicating therewithto withdraw from the space in front of said nozzle opening accumulationof liquid fuel and return it to the` stream in vaporized form whenheated.

Vl0. In a hand-portable blow torch for operation with liquid fuel, thecombination ofla torch unit comprising an air duct having a restrictednozzle opening at the front end, a fuel supply tube extending throughsaid duct and having an outlet nozzle adjacent said nozzle opening andto the rear thereof, a fuel container connected to said fuel tube, asource of compressed air conneeted to said duct and to said containerfor supplying said fuel to said nozzle opening and yproducing a streamof atomized fuel miXed with air sufhcientv for complete combustionthereof issuing in front of said nozzle opening, a tubular stream guideextending in front of said nozzle opening around the stream to hold theflame at a distance from the nozzle opening, said tubular guide having acompartment segregated from the stream space but communicating therewithto withdraw from the space in front of said nozzle lo openingaccumulation of liquid fuel and return it to the stream in vaporizedform when heated, and a perforated baffle across said tubular guidebetween its front end and said nozzle opening.

15 11. In a blow torch for operating with liquid fuel7 a nozzlecomprising an elongated tubular member having a relatively wide ltubularbore open at the front end to thev atmosphere7 a closure wall enclosingthe zo'rear end of said tubular members, said closure wall having arestricted nozzle opening, means for forcing an atomized fuel stream andair sufficient for complete combustion of the fuel through said 25nozzle opening into said bore, said tubular member having on its underside a Chamber communicating with said bore on the front side of saidnozzle opening for withdrawing liquid fuel collecting in front of thenozzle.

In Witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names.

ROY A. WILEY. CHESLEY L. WOLFE.

